Although by January 1, 1911, we had eighty-four beds filled nearly every night with homeless men, we felt ourselves very much hampered for room. We turned many away. Many a poor fellow that winter walked the streets all night to keep from freezing.
When we pray for a thing which we think the work of the Lord requires, we begin at once to arrange for it, as if the money to do the work were already at hand. Our paper, The Gospel Tidings, of January, 1911, said, “Our Mission now does business in three different localities, and will soon be obliged to rent two more places for the wood cutting department and for opening a penny lunch-room.”
We were so sure that the Lord's work needed enlarging that we went to the very best architects we knew, Gregg & Leisenring, and told them our plans and needs, and they prepared with the greatest care, drawings for a building costing at the very least $50,000, besides the cost of the land. Then the writer visited the seats of the mighty in New York City with the best introductions that the District Commissioners and leading statesmen could give. While I was received with great kindness and courtesy, I was distinctly told by one magnate that he helped only the young and those starting in life; by another that his charity could never take a local form, that he gave along the line of research for causes and remedies of diseases. The women, whose secretaries I met, themselves not being visible to plain people, I was assured had planned all their surplus income for five to eight years ahead, so that I came back convinced that God's way for the Gospel Mission was not by way of New York City.
About that time a great fire occurred in an eastern city, and many men and women lost their lives, and the order went out in Washington that every building where a large number of people worked or slept must have plenty of fire-escapes.
We found to put fire-escapes on the Gospel Mission would cost $125, an immense sum to us, but we were preparing to put up the fire-escapes when the owner refused his permission. We told the police, and asked time to relocate, but were peremptorily ordered out of 1230 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W. We could find no suitable building obtainable within our means.
A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
was called at my house for prayer. There were thirteen members present. The object of the meeting was stated by President Wheeler, a few of God's promises read from His word, and we went on our knees for prayer.
Each one asked for a suitable home to do the Master's work as seen and done by the Gospel Mission. It was noticeable that after the eighth person had prayed, each prayer took more and more the form of thanksgiving, as if we already had received the building, or money to build it.
There had been offered to us a very large double building which had once been used as the District Building, and upon which it was claimed that the government of the United States had once put $60,000 to make it fireproof. It is situated at 214-216 John Marshall Place, N. W., not far from the foot of Capitol Hill. After having the distinct answer to prayer that God was working with us, a letter was written to Mrs. John Hay, wife of the deceased great Secretary of State, asking her to purchase that building for $25,000 for us and to permit us to pay her a fair interest and pay the principal in annual payments. The letter was written about the first of March. Almost by return mail Mrs. Hay replied that she did not care to make so large an investment, but if we cared to go forward and purchase the building ourselves, that on April 1 she would give us $5000 on the first payment. Never will I forget the scene when that letter was read.
Mr. H. D. Gordon had received the letter just as he was starting for the Board meeting, his face was radiant. When Mr. Wheeler came in the letter was put in his hands without comment. As soon as he read the words, “I will give you $5000 on the first payment,” without waiting to finish the letter, he said, “Let us pray.” We, on our knees, each one thanked God for the gift dictated by His Spirit, and asked God's blessing on the magnanimous woman who had obeyed the Spirit's order.